Northwestern's anti-hazing policies 'robust' but more is needed, former US Attorney General Loretta Lynch's review finds

“Our top priority is providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes, both academically and athletically,” athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a release accompanying the report. “We cannot do this without being open to continuous learning and improvement. The Department of Athletics and Recreation takes the findings of the review seriously and is eager to apply these lessons towards enhancing our programs and support systems.”

Earlier this month, the university announced that Gragg, who faced scrutiny over his handling of the scandals, will take on a new role as vice president of athletic strategy. He’ll continue as athletic director until a replacement is hired.

One of the four working groups is tasked with evaluating the university’s Committee on Athletics and Recreation, consisting of faculty members, a student-athlete representative, an alumni, and staff from the athletics department and university administration.

Its mandate, according to Lynch’s review, is “assuring that the intercollegiate and recreational sports programs of the university are conducted with high standards of educational and ethical integrity and reflect the values of the university as an educational community,” and its tasks include monitoring athletes’ grades and competition schedules and holding exit interviews with graduating student-athletes.

But Lynch’s team found confusion in the committee’s responsibilities and suggested it could be tasked with ensuring that concerns raised by student-athletes are addressed. It could also serve as a bridge when faculty have issues with the athletics department.

Another working group created by university officials has been asked to examine what Lynch’s team called “a growing tension” between some faculty and the athletics department over how the university funds and prioritizes athletics.

“Although this tension became most visible after allegations of hazing surfaced last year,” it wrote in its executive summary, “we believe it existed prior to that and may have been building in recent years due to, among other things, perceived disparities in the amount of funding allocated to academics and athletics.”

_____